Cigarette lighter cover

ABSTRACT

A cigarette-lighter cover, preferably formed of molded plastic material, is provided in a generally planar configuration having an internally formed hinge enabling a portion of the cover to be swung thereabout to expose a portion of the lighter and a protuberance which may be snapped into a recess in the lighter to releasably hold the cover in place.

United States Patent [1 1 Christmas CIGARETTE LIGHTER COVER [75]Inventor: Ronald Jack Christmas,

Leatherhead, England [73] Assignee: Ronson Products Limited,

Woodbridge, NJ.

22 Filed: Feb. 21, 1974 211 App]. No.: 444,557

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 23, 1973 United Kingdom9139/73 [52] US. Cl. 431/152; 220/339; 141/350 [51] Int. Cl. F23Q 25/00[58] Field of Search 431/146, 152; 215/235,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,106,311 10/1963 Fairchild220/38.5

[4 1 Aug. 12, 1975 3,295,024 12/1966 Newman 431/143 3,381,916 5/1968Edgell 220/31 S 3,417,897 12/1968 Johnson.... 220/31 S 3,744,662 7/1973Zundel 220/38.5

Primary ExaminerCarroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or F irmToren,McGeady and Stanger [5 7 ABSTRACT 6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUBI 2 I975 SHEET cicAiRErTE LIGHTER COVER This invention relates tocigarette lighters and in par ticular to a cover for closing recessesformed in the body of the lighter.

Cigarette lighters, whether they be fuelled by liquefied gas or normallyliquid fuels, have various adjustment means or service points such asflame height regulators, flint replacement screws, filling valves orrefuel]- ing apertures. These can be unsightly and are usually housed ina recess in the lighter body which is provided with a cover. In one formthe cover consists of a plug which is retained in position by frictionor by means of a screw thread. Both types involve the risk of loss of asmall component the plug and in the case of a screw threaded plug a toolmay be necessary for its fitment and removal. Among the more expensivemethods of concealing adjustment means and service points in lightersthe cover consists of a flap which is hinged to the body of the lighter.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover of thislatter type but which is less expensive in manufacture.

The present invention provides an improved cover which comprises asingle body formed of a plastic, such as polypropylene, providing aportion of generally planar form connected by an integrally formed hingeto an upstanding spigot which may be secured in a recess formed in thelighter. In use of the improved cover the hinge serves to enable theplanar portion of the cover to be swung open to expose the recessnormally concealed thereby.

Preferably the lighter body is formed with a shallow recess into whichthe planar portion of the cover fits.

The spigot of the improved cover may be provided with integral portionswhich are deformable to provide a snap fit within a suitably shapedrecess in the lighter body thereby ensuring that the cover is firmlysecured.

One embodiment of the improved cover of this invention will now bedescribed with reference to the aceompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cover according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section through a gas lighter showing the cover secured inposition; and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the base of the gas lighter showing the coverin its closed position.

FIG. I shows the cover, formed as an integral moulding in plastic, ashaving a planar portion 1 and a protuberance or spigot 2. An annular rib3 is formed around the spigot to secure the cover more firmly whenpositioned on the lighter. The planar portion has a V- shaped recess 4formed across its width close to the spigot; this provides a weakenedarea which, providing suitable plastic material such as polypropylene isused, serves as a hinge of very long life.

The edge 5 of the planar portion 1 remote from the spigot is formed witha slight chamfer which enables the cover to be lifted by means or" afinger nail or a thin implement.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of part of a lighter casing showing the coverof H6. 1 in position. The lighter cas ing includes the cover and thelighter body which is shown at 6 as having a deep recess to accommodatean inlet valve 7 for recharging the lighter with liquid gas. Two furtherrecesses are formed in the lighter body, one at 8 which is dimensionedto receive the spigot 2 of the cover and the other one 9 which isshallow to accommodate the planar portion of the cover. The recess 8 isshown as being formed with an internal groove 10 into which the rib 3snaps as the spigot 2 is pushed home whereby to secure the cover inposition.

As will be seen from FIG. 2, the cover fits in the recess 9 in thelighter body flush with the outer surface of the body, thereby neatlyclosing the recess for the inlet valve and protecting the latter fromdust and damage. Also shown in FIG. 2 in dotted lines is the positionassumed by the planar portion of the cover when it is swung open aboutthe hinge 4. Such a displacement of the cover exposes the inlet valvepermitting the lighter to be easily refilled.

FIG. 3 shows the cover in its closed position and illustrates moreclearly the manner in which the recess 9 in the lighter body may beshaped at 11 to enable a finger nail to be applied to open the cover.

What is claimed is:

I. A cigarette lighter casing comprising a body having a first recessand a cover fitted within and displaceably mounted in said first recess,said first recess having a second recess formed therein extendinginwardly into said body from said first recess, said cover comprising anintegral molded member formed of plastic material and including a flatplanar body portion, a hinge integrally formed in said body portion anddividing it into a first part of said body portion and a second part ofsaid body portion, a protuberance formed on said first part of said bodyportion and spaced from said hinge and extending generallyperpendicularly from said planar body portion, said protuberance beingconfigured to extend in closely fitting engagement to said second recessand to be releasably secured therein so that said first part of saidbody portion can be held in place on said body and said second part ofsaid body can be pivotally displaced relative to said first part aboutsaid hinge, a third recess extending from said first recess and inwardlyinto said body and having a filling valve therein, said second part ofsaid body portion extending over said third recess in a closed positionof said cover.

2. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidsecond recess has an internal annular groove formed in the internalsurface thereof with the grooves being spaced from said first recess,said protuberance includes an annular member extending outwardly fromand around its surface, said annular rib being arranged to snap intoreleasable engagement within said groove in said second recess when saiiprotuberance is inserted into said second recess.

3. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidbody portion of said cover is shaped for a major portion of its lateralperiphery to conform to the shape of said first recess in said body.

4. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 1, wherein saidhinge comprises a groove-like recess extending across said body portionbetween said first part and second part of said body portion.

5. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidsecond part of said body portion of said cover is shaped at a positionspaced from said hinge to have an edge portion thereof spaced from thejuxtaposed edge of said first recess to permit access to said secondpart of said body portion enabling said second part to be gripped sothat it can be pivoted about said hinge out of said first recess.

6. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 4, wherein saidgroove-like recess of said hinge is V- shaped and is formed in thesurface of said body portion facing into said first recess.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3,899,285 Dated August 12, 1975 Inventor(s) Ronald Jack Christmas It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Item [73] should read A ssignee: Ronson Products Limited Leatherhead,Surrey, England Signed and. Scaled this RUTH c. MASON c. MARSHALL DANNArresting Officer I (mnmisxinnvr nj'Parenrx and Trademarks

1. A cigarette lighter casing comprising a body having a first recessand a cover fitted within and displaceably mounted in said first recess,said first recess having a second recess formed therein extendinginwardly into said body from said first recess, said cover comprising anintegral molded member formed of plastic material and including a flatplanar body portion, a hinge integrally formed in said body portion anddividing it into a first part of said body portion and a second part ofsaid body portion, a protuberance formed on said first part of said bodyportion and spaced from said hinge and extending generallyperpendicularly from said planar body portion, said protuberance beingconfigured to extend in closely fitting engagement to said second recessand to be releasably secured therein so that said first part of saidbody portion can be held in place on said body and said second part ofsaid body can be pivotally displaced relative to said first part aboutsaid hinge, a third recess extending from said first recess and inwardlyinto said body and having a filling valve therein, said second part ofsaid body portion extending over said third recess in a closed positionof said cover.
 2. A cigarette lighter casing, as set forth in claim 1,wherein said second recess has an internal annular groove formed in theinternal surface thereof with the grooves being spaced from said firstrecess, said protuberance includes an annular member extending outwardlyfrom and around its surface, said annular rib being arranged to snapinto releasable engagement within said groove in said second recess whensaid protuberance is inserted into said second recess.
 3. A cigarettelighter casing, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body portion ofsaid cover is shaped for a major portion of its lateral periphery toconform to the shape of said first recess in said body.
 4. A cigarettelighter casing, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hinge comprises agroove-like recess extending across said body portion between said firstpart and second part of said body portion.
 5. A cigarette lightercasing, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said second part of said bodyportion of said cover is shaped at a position spaced from said hinge tohave an edge portion thereof spaced from the juxtaposed edge of saidfirst recess to permit access to said second part of said body portionenabling said second part to be gripped so that it can be pivoted aboutsaid hinge out of said first recess.
 6. A cigarette lighter casing, asset forth in claim 4, wherein said groove-like recess of said hinge isV-shaped and is formed in the surface of said body portion facing intosaid first recess.